Reconsidering stress and smoking: a qualitative study among college students

Abstract

Moving away from an individual-focused analysis of stress to a broader assessment of the social contexts of smoking provides a more nuanced account of the multifunctionalilty of cigarettes in students' lives. Qualitative research draws attention to issues including the need for smoking and socialising during examination time, smoking as a way to take a break and refocus, notions of second-hand stress and smoking to manage social relationships.